Phlox plant named ‘Versbicolor’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phlox  plant named ‘Versbicolor’, characterized by its upright and relatively compact plant habit; freely flowering habit; white and pink bi-colored flowers; long flowering period; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Phlox paniculata.

Cultivar denomination: ‘VERSBICOLOR’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant, botanically known as Phlox paniculata and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Versbicolor’.

The new Phlox plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Haarlem, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to create new compact and freely-flowering Phlox plants with attractive flower coloration.

The new Phlox plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in 2007 in Haarlem, The Netherlands, of two unnamed seedling selections of Phlox paniculata, not patented. The new Phlox plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Haarlem, The Netherlands in 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phlox plant by cuttings in a controlled environment in Haarlem, The Netherlands since 2009 has shown that the unique features of this new Phlox plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Phlox have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Versbicolor’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Versbicolor’ as a new and distinct Phlox plant:

-   -   1. Upright and relatively compact plant habit.     -   2. Freely flowering habit.     -   3. White and pink bi-colored flowers.     -   4. Long flowering period.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Phlox and the parent selections differ primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox are more compact and bushier than         plants of the parent selections.     -   2. Plants of the new Phlox are more freely flowering than plants         of the parent selections.     -   3. Plants of the new Phlox and the parent selections differ in         flower color.

Plants of the new Phlox can be compared to plants of the Phlox paniculata ‘Europa’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Haarlem, The Netherlands, plants of the new Phlox and ‘Europa’ differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox were shorter and more compact than         plants of ‘Europa’.     -   2. Plants of the new Phlox were more freely flowering than         plants of ‘Europa’.     -   3. Plants of the new Phlox flowered for a longer period of time         than plants of ‘Europa’.     -   4. Plants of the new Phlox and ‘Europa’ differed slightly in         flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phlox plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Phlox plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of typical flowering plants of ‘Versbicolor’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of the upper surface of a typical leaf of ‘Versbicolor’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 1.5-liter containers during the late summer/early autumn in an outdoor nursery in Haarlem, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 16° C. to 32° C. and night temperatures ranged from 6° C. to 18° C. Plants were two years old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Phlox paniculata ‘Versbicolor’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed seedling selection of Phlox             paniculata, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed seedling selection of Phlox             paniculata, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three weeks at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About six weeks at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright             and relatively compact plant habit; broad inverted triangle;             low to moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 36 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 28 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 13.1 cm to 28.2 cm.             Diameter: About 2.5 mm to 6.5 mm. Internode length: About             3.3 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             Close to 144B to 144C. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 9.1 cm.         -   Width.—About 3.9 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate to elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138A. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Between 137A and 137D;             venation, close to 144B. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Between 138B and 147B; venation, close to 144B to             144C.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm by 2.5 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single rotate and             salverform flowers arranged in compound terminal panicles;             flowers face mostly upright to outwardly; panicles roughly             hemispherical in shape; freely flowering habit with about             150 flowers developing per inflorescence.         -   Fragrance.—Moderately fragrant; sweet, pleasant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about nine             months after planting; long flowering period, plants flower             continuously from July through September in The Netherlands.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about ten days on the             plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Shape: Narrowly elliptic to narrowly oblanceolate. Color:             Close to N155B flushed with close to 76C to 76D; towards the             base, close to 145B to 145C.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 11.3 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 11.6 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.9 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 2.3 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl; petals fused at the base into a narrow tube. Length:             About 2.8 cm. Lobe width: About 1.5 cm. Shape: Spatulate.             Apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety. Color: When             opening, upper surface: Close to N155B; towards the base,             heavily tinged with between 67B and 68D; throat, close to             150D. When opening, lower surface: Close to N155B; towards             the base, tinged with close to 68C; tube, 150D. Fully             opened, upper surface: Close to NN155D; towards the base,             heavily tinged with close to 68B to 68D; throat, close to             150D. With development, ground color becomes closer to             between 76D to N155B; towards the base, tinged with close to             75A to 75C; throat, between 150D and 157C. Fully opened,             lower surface: Close to NN155D; towards the base, tinged             with close to 75B to 75D; tube, 150D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl, fused towards the base; calyx, campanulate. Length:             About 9 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:             Narrowly apiculate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 144A; towards the base, close to             144C; towards the margins, close to 145D. Fully opened,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A; towards the base,             close to 144C; towards the margins, close to 145D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 7.5 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Angle: Main peduncle, erect; lateral peduncles, about 40°             from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: Close to 145B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle:             About 30° from the peduncle axis. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 145B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             five; filaments fused with petals. Filament length: About             1 mm. Filament color: Close to 145B. Anther length: About             2 mm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to 12B to             12C. Pollen amount: Medium. Pollen color: Close to 11D.             Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About             1.2 cm. Stigma shape: Three-parted. Stigma color: Close to             145D. Style length: About 1.1 cm. Style color: Close to             145C. Ovary color: Close to 143B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Phlox. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Phlox have been     observed to be relatively tolerant to Powdery Mildew. Plants of the     new Phlox have not been noted to be resistant to pests and other     pathogens common to Phlox plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Phlox have been observed to     have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind, high     temperatures about 35° C. and to be winter hardy to USDA Hardiness     Zone 6. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Phlox plant named ‘Versbicolor’ as illustrated and described. 